As fear swells with the tide in Kozhikode

The construction of sea walls is yet to be completed in several locations of the 72.5-km stretch of the Kozhikode shoreline. With the strengthening monsoon, fear of high tides grips the fishermen communities along the Kozhikode coast.

Construction of sea wall is yet to begin at Puthiyappa in Kozhikode though several families are facing the threat of sea erosion. Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup.

The construction of sea walls is yet to be completed in several locations of the 72.5-km stretch of the Kozhikode shoreline. With the strengthening monsoon, fear of high tides grips the fishermen communities along the Kozhikode coast.

According to official sources, the district is in need of at least Rs.10 crore to complete some of the already submitted projects in the current financial year. Nearly 40 projects — most of them related to the construction of sea walls, groins, and breakwaters in some of the important locations — are awaiting the clearance of the government, they add.

Of the total number of projects, no fewer than 12 are in and around the Vadakara taluk, where the number of fishermen houses is relatively high.

The Avikkal-Kuriyadi stretch of the coastline here is in need of a higher sea wall to effectively prevent the waves. According to official sources, the Koyilandy taluk too has seven projects submitted to the government.

In Kozhikode city, two projects have been forwarded for the immediate attention of the government. Records at the Collectorate show that the Collector has directly submitted 38 projects for the consideration of the government for initiating protective measures on the shoreline.

In the proposal, an initial aid of Rs.7.5 crore has been sought for the completion of the works within a year.

Meanwhile, the fund is yet to be released to complete the works. “In June, the district was granted Rs.1 crore from the Department of Disaster Management, which would be sufficient only for strengthening the existing sea walls and providing some basic facilities for people in need of rehabilitation following sea erosion threats,” a revenue officer said.

Fishermen are worried as coastline protection work is yet to start in several areas. “On the Kappad-Elathur stretch, one can spot several houses under the threat of sea erosion. One house had even been damaged partially in high tide,” said Rajesh Mani, a fisherman from Elathur.

He said there would be no use if the proposed works were not completed before the north-west monsoon.